It is exclusive for a reason. I do not think that this toy would sell well in Japan on the mass market considering Buster Optimus Prime is coming soon. If there was chrome I would buy it, but there really is little incentive to buy it when I have the Hasbro ROTF Voyager Optimus.

Actually Taisho (大将) doesn't exactly mean a chef. Older men use the word to casually (and friendly) address a stranger, maybe like "hey champ/chief" in English. Thus it is used to address an owner of a small eatery. Younger people don't use this expression, and naturally it doesn't look very cool on Optimus Prime, so it's gone

The irony here is that in Japan, a country famous for its terrible English (check out Engrish.com ), will allow numerous TFs with bad English ("Sky Garry" instead of "Sky Carry", "Conboy" instead of "Convoy") etc).

It also shows Japan's animosity towards China, by banning "incorrect" Chinese when all that is needed is a little explanation via piece of paper in the packaging.

I just talked to someone in Japan and he said that e-hobby is only selling them through a lottery. As always, it is hard to win a lottery. The best way to obtain one is by paying a premium price on the secondary parket. The retail is already 4000 yen, which was higher than Gentei Wildrider (3000 yen).